Nothing is going to stop the rich and famous from making their reservations at the White Lotus—not even back-to-back murders at the resort’s different global locales.
It’s official: after our vacationers leave Thailand, a whole new set of guests will be checking in for yet another season of The White Lotus. Weeks before season three aired, HBO confirmed that Mike White’s dark comedy would be returning for a fourth season. While plot, location, and cast details haven’t been disclosed, we can probably safely assume that season four will be brimming with even more mystery, desire, and—well—death. Here's what we know so far.
HBO renewed season four early
On 22 January—weeks before season three’s February premiere date—HBO confirmed season four of The White Lotus. Production for the project is expected to begin some time early next year
The location is to be determined
While White and the rest of the HBO producers have yet to officially decide on a location for season four, there are hints that the show may head back to Europe. In February 2025, Norwegian outlet Bergens Tidende reported that The White Lotus was offered 88 million kroner (approximately £6.3 million) to film in the country, although the team later reportedly declined the proposal.
Even if The White Lotus doesn’t head to Norway, the team is apparently scouting other locations in Europe. HBO EVP Francesca Orsi previously told Deadline, “We’re going on some locations scouting in the next couple of weeks, so we’ll know soon. I can’t really say where we’re going to land but chances are somewhere in Europe.”
While some fans have theorised that season four will focus on a snowy ski resort, producer David Bernad has suggested otherwise during an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. “I’d bet $100,000 we don’t end up in the cold next,” he told the outlet. “Even if we flirted with the idea, [showrunner Mike White] just wouldn’t want to be in the cold. He hates it.”
White has also offered insight into his own thought process when choosing the next location. “Where we choose to go next could be hugely impactful [to that locale]. That’s why it was so cool to shoot in Thailand. It’s hard to go backward. Like, ‘Oh, we’ll do it in Paris!’ That feels like a cop-out,” he told the Hollywood Reporter. “At the same time, I’m not a cultural ambassador. I’m a random writer. I need to focus on what I’m excited about creatively and not get too far ahead of myself.”
Mike White would love to do an all-star cast
Ever fantasised about who would win in an alpha bro contest between season three’s Saxon, season two’s Cameron, and season one’s Shane? Turns out that fantasy might just become a reality in season four. White has considered the idea of bringing back former White Lotus survivors—or costars—for an all-star cast in season four. “I’d love to do that,” he told the Hollywood Reporter.
Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays Saxon, recalled, “They could get all the douche guys in one hotel together. Mike said that one day when we were on set, he was like, ‘Oh my God, it’d be so good to get you, Jake Lacy and Theo James in the same room.’” HBO CEO Casey Bloys also suggested the potential threads that could connect different characters together. “Maybe Molly Shannon’s character and Victoria Ratliff know each other? There are so many connections between all these awful people,” he said.
Season four will sound very different
Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, the Emmy-winning composer responsible for The White Lotus’s beloved theme song and anxiety-inducing soundtrack, confirmed that he will not return to the project next season.
In an interview with the New York Times, Tapia de Veer said that his decision to exit The White Lotus stemmed from creative differences between himself and White. Critically, the two struggled over season three’s theme song, which did not feature the vocal melody that had previously appeared in seasons one and two.
“People are furious about the change of the theme, and I thought that was interesting,” Tapia de Veer said. “I texted the producer and I told him that it would be great to, at some point, give them the longer version with [the vocal mix], because people will explode if they realise that it was going there anyway. He thought it was a good idea. But then Mike cut that—he wasn’t happy about that. I mean, at that point, we already had our last fight forever, I think. So he was just saying no to anything.”
Tapia de Veer later posted the uncut version of the song on his YouTube channel, which you can listen to here.
Season four likely won’t drop until 2027
With production slated to begin in 2026, it’s possible that we won’t get to watch season four until late 2026 or even 2027.
In the meantime, consider checking out our list of the best shows to watch if you already miss The White Lotus.
